I think this would be an excellent change. It costs a fortune to prosecute and deport these young people, and we waste a lot of law enforcement resources going after these folks who are otherwise law-abiding, and often only in violation of immigration law because of what someone else (their parents) did. Plus with the education or armed forces requirement, they would have a better chance of finding work than a citizen who dropped out at 15, so the long-term “drain” on the social infrastructure could be quite low. I see nothing wrong with wanting to let kids and young adults who’ve stayed out of trouble and gotten a basic education stay here. Plus, the work ethic I’ve seen in many first-generation immigrant families is impressive, so a kid who’s raised by a parent who is constantly working would to me seem more likely to work hard themselves.

I think it’s a great step by Obama allowing “innocent” children who were brought here at a young age an opprotunity to remain and work in the United States. In order to qualify you have to be in school, no criminal records, and demonstrate that you have lived here for at least 5 years or more.

I also want to add that now undocumented immigrants who served in our army will also be given the chance to become citizens. For what I understood, they were not given citizenship for serving our country, which I found to be a HORRIBLE policy , if anyone else knows different I would like to hear from you.

@LadyX: Very ugly but to be honest I know the are millions of Americans who wants us out and I don’t blame then is just hard for somepeople to understand the not all Latinos or inmigrant are bad not all of us live from welfare o don’t pay taxes . But it is what it is not everyone is going to be happy with this new policies!

What bothers me is that people who are against it sees this as amnesty, which it is not. This policy, only allows individuals to remain here and work, but does not give them legal permanent status. They still have hoops to jump through in order to attain that goal. The Dream Act focuses on students who are in high school and college who are pursuing an education and have an opprotunity to get jobs (careers) that eluded them in the past. So I believe it’s a great thing!

As a person who specializes in ESL students at the college level, this issue is important to me. A number of my students will likely fall under the jurisdiction of this, or my students’ children will. I am very much in support.

It’s really important to remember that this new ruling DOES NOT convey citizenship in any way. It simply allows for people who fall under a specific set of parameters to remain in the U.S., functioning and contributing positively to society, without fear of automatic legal action or deportation. For minors who arrived in the U.S. and have worked to contribute to their family and community, this will prevent unnecessary and expensive pursuit and punishment.

If these same people can eventually become citizens following due process, so much the better.

@catracha: That’s true, I think assumptions are made of specific immigrants and don’t care what the facts are.

I also think people don’t realize that the Obama administration has conducted the most ICE raids than any other administration, not even any other Republian administration. So this is a major difference than his previous attitudes towards the undocumented. Also under his administration ICE raids have been conducted on homes where United State citizens live because they thought “illegal immigrants” lived there. It was so sad to see a young girl that now suffers PTSD because of what all those agents did to her home and how they treated her and her parents for no reason! Not even an apology from the government for entering a home of a born and raised United States citizen family. Ok sorry I went on a rant but I couldn’t help it, when it comes to these types of topics it’s so hard to not get emotional. Hence why my original post was so short.

People need to READ and check the ice website before , this is Not a Amnesty like u said !! And only help for people the is studying or has finish high school and is they have any felony or misdemeanors they would not be giving anything !!